MODULE 2: EXPLORING VISUAL ARTS
This module will guide you through the fundamental concepts of visual
arts, including how to interpret them, their core elements, and an
introduction to the specific mediums of film and photography.
1. DEFINITION OF READING VISUAL ARTS
"Reading Visual Arts" refers to the process of interpreting and
understanding the meaning, message, and aesthetic qualities conveyed by a
work of art. It involves going beyond simply looking at an image or object to
actively analyzing its components, context, and the artist's intentions. It's
about deciphering the visual language used by the artist to communicate
ideas, emotions, or stories.
2. THREE STEPS OF READING VISUAL ARTS
To effectively "read" visual arts, a systematic approach can be helpful. Here
are three common steps:
STEP 1 DESCRIPTION (WHAT DO YOU SEE?)
This initial step involves objectively listing the observable facts within
the artwork without interpretation.
IDENTIFY BASIC ELEMENTS
What colors, lines, shapes, forms, textures are present?
SUBJECT MATTER
What objects, figures, or scenes are depicted?
COMPOSITION
How are the elements arranged? Is there a focal point?
MEDIUM AND TECHNIQUE
What materials were used (paint, clay, digital)? How was it made?
STEP 2 ANALYSIS (HOW IS IT ORGANIZED?)
This step involves examining how the elements identified in the
description are organized and how they contribute to the overall effect.
Principles of Design
How are unity, balance, contrast, rhythm, emphasis, and proportion
used?
COLOR RELATIONSHIPS
Are there complementary, analogous, or triadic schemes? How do
warm and cool colors interact?
LINE DIRECTION
Do lines create movement, stability, or tension?
SPACE AND PERSPECTIVE
How does the artist create depth or flatness?
STEP 3 INTERPRETATION (WHAT DOES IT MEAN?)
This final step involves deriving meaning from the artwork based on
your observations and analysis, considering its potential messages,
emotions, or narratives.
SYMBOLISM
Do any elements represent something beyond their literal meaning?
CONTEXT
What historical, cultural, or personal factors might have influenced the
artist or the artwork?
EMOTIONAL IMPACT
What feelings does the artwork evoke in you?
ARTIST'S INTENT
What do you think the artist was trying to communicate?
PERSONAL CONNECTION
How does the artwork relate to your own experiences or
understanding?
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGNS
The principles of design are fundamental guidelines that help artists and
designers create effective, aesthetically pleasing, and communicative visual
compositions. They dictate how the elements of design (like line, shape,
color, texture, and space) are arranged and organized within a work.
Here are some of the key principles of design:
1. BALANCE
Balance refers to the distribution of visual weight in a composition. It gives
stability and structure to a design.
Symmetrical Balance
Elements are mirrored on either side of a central axis, creating a
formal and orderly feel.
Asymmetrical Balance
Different elements are arranged to achieve visual equilibrium without
mirroring, often resulting in dynamic and informal compositions.
Radial Balance
Elements radiate outwards from a central point, like spokes on a
wheel.
2. CONTRAST
Contrast is the juxtaposition of opposing elements (e.g., light and dark, large
and small, rough and smooth, modern and traditional). It creates visual
interest, emphasizes certain areas, and enhances readability.
3. EMPHASIS (OR DOMINANCE/FOCAL POINT)
Emphasis is the principle of design that highlights a specific element or area
to draw the viewer's attention first. This can be achieved through size, color,
placement, or contrast.
4. MOVEMENT
Movement guides the viewer's eye through the design, leading them from
one element to the next. It can be created through lines, shapes, repetition,
and the arrangement of elements.
5. PATTERN & REPETITION
Repetition
The recurrence of a design element (like a color, shape, or line)
throughout a work. It creates consistency, strengthens the design, and
can establish rhythm.
Pattern
A repeating decorative design, often formed by repeating elements in
a predictable sequence.
6. PROPORTION & SCALE
Proportion
The relative size of parts of a whole to each other.
Scale
The size of an object in relation to other objects or to a standard of
measurement. These principles create a sense of harmony and visual
hierarchy.
7. RHYTHM
Rhythm refers to the organized movement in a design, often achieved
through the repetition of elements. It can be regular, flowing, or progressive,
creating a visual tempo.
8. UNITY & HARMONY
Unity (or harmony) is the sense that all elements of a design belong together
and create a cohesive, complete, and visually pleasing whole. It ensures that
the individual parts contribute to the overall message.
9. VARIETY
Variety is the use of different elements to add visual interest and avoid
monotony. While unity brings elements together, variety keeps the design
from being boring.
10. Alignment
Alignment refers to the arrangement of elements along a common edge or
line. It creates a clean, organized, and professional look, enhancing
readability and visual connection.
11. HIERARCHY
Hierarchy is the arrangement of elements to show their order of importance.
It guides the viewer's eye through the information, ensuring that the most
critical elements are noticed first.
12. WHITE SPACE (OR NEGATIVE SPACE)
White space is the empty area around and between elements in a design. It
helps to define and separate elements, improve readability, and give the eye
a place to rest.
IMPORTANCE OF READING VISUAL ARTS
Understanding how to read visual arts is crucial for several reasons:
Enhanced Appreciation
It deepens your understanding and enjoyment of art, allowing you to see
beyond the surface.
Critical Thinking
It develops analytical skills by requiring you to observe, question, and
synthesize information.
Cultural Understanding
Art often reflects the values, beliefs, and history of a society, providing
insights into different cultures.
Communication Skills
It improves your ability to articulate observations and interpretations, and to
understand non-verbal communication.
Personal Growth
Engaging with art can broaden perspectives, foster empathy, and stimulate
creativity.
Seven Elements of Visual Arts
The "elements of art" are the fundamental components or building blocks
that artists use to create a work of art.
LINE
A mark with length and direction, created by a point moving in space. It can
be straight, curved, thick, thin, continuous, or broken.
SHAPE
A two-dimensional enclosed area defined by lines or other elements. Shapes
can be geometric (squares, circles) or organic (free-form).
FORM
A three-dimensional object having height, width, and depth. Forms can be
geometric (cubes, spheres) or organic (sculptures of figures).
COLOR
The element of art derived from reflected light. It has three properties: hue
(the name of the color), value (lightness or darkness), and intensity
(brightness or dullness).
VALUE
The lightness or darkness of a color or tone. It ranges from pure white to
pure black, with various shades of gray in between.
TEXTURE
The perceived surface quality of an object – how it feels or looks like it would
feel if touched (e.g., rough, smooth, soft, hard).
SPACE
The area around, between, and within components of a work of art. It can be
positive (the subject) or negative (the background), and can create the
illusion of depth.
TOOLS USED IN VISUAL ARTS
The tools used in visual arts are as diverse as the art forms themselves. Here
are some common categories:
DRAWING
Pencils (graphite, colored), charcoal, pastels, ink pens, markers, erasers,
sketchbooks, drawing paper.
PAINTING
Brushes (various shapes and sizes), palettes, easels, canvases, paints (oil,
acrylic, watercolor, gouache), solvents, varnishes.
SCULPTURE
Clay, carving tools (chisels, mallets), armatures, welding equipment, plaster,
wood, stone, metal.
PRINTMAKING
Engraving tools, etching needles, brayers, printing presses, inks, paper,
linoleum blocks, woodblocks, screens (for screen printing).
DIGITAL ART
Computers, graphic tablets, styluses, software (e.g., Adobe Photoshop,
Illustrator, Procreate, Blender), digital cameras.
MIXED MEDIA/ASSEMBLAGE
Adhesives, scissors, knives, found objects, fabrics, wires, various craft
supplies.
COLOR WHEEL
The color wheel is a fundamental tool in art and design, helping us
understand color relationships and create harmonious palettes. It's a visual
representation of colors arranged according to their chromatic relationships.
1. Primary Colors
These are the foundational colors from which all other colors can be mixed.
They cannot be created by mixing other colors.
Red
Yellow
Blue
2. Secondary Colors
These colors are created by mixing two primary colors together.
Orange (Red + Yellow)
Green (Yellow + Blue)
Violet/Purple (Blue + Red)
3. Tertiary Colors
Tertiary colors are formed by mixing a primary color with an adjacent
secondary color. Their names typically combine the names of the primary
and secondary colors (e.g., Red-Orange, Blue-Green).
Red-Orange
Yellow-Orange
Yellow-Green
Blue-Green
Blue-Violet
Red-Violet
The Complete Color Wheel
When all primary, secondary, and tertiary colors are arranged in a circle,
they form the complete color wheel.
Color Harmonies (Color Schemes)
The color wheel helps us identify various color harmonies, which are
combinations of colors that are pleasing to the eye.
1. Complementary Colors
An easy way to distinguish which colors are complementary is to look
at a color wheel. Complementary colors are parallel from each other on
that wheel: red to green, blue to orange, and yellow to purple. Colors
directly opposite each other on the color wheel. They create high
contrast and vibrancy.
o Examples: Red and Green, Blue and Orange, Yellow and Violet.
2. Analogous Colors
Analogous colors are colors that are neighboring each other on the
color wheel such as blues, greens, and purples and yellows, oranges,
and reds. When pairing analogous colors together, you create a more
calming, harmonious, low-contrasting color palette, as opposed to a
high contrasting color palette when using complementary colors. When
using an analogous color palette, one color is typically used as the
dominant color. The secondary color(s) is used as a supporting color to
the dominant one.
Then the third color(s) acts as an accent color. By having a dominant,
secondary, and an accent color, it becomes more visually balanced
when all paired together.
3. Triadic Colors
Three colors equally spaced around the color wheel, forming a perfect
triangle. They offer strong visual contrast while retaining harmony.
o Examples: Red, Yellow, Blue (Primary Triad); Orange, Green,
Violet (Secondary Triad).
4. Split-Complementary Colors
One base color and the two colors adjacent to its complement. This
offers high contrast but with less tension than a direct complementary
scheme.
o Example: Blue, Red-Orange, Yellow-Orange.
5. Monochromatic Colors
Different shades, tints, and tones of a single color. This creates a
subtle and sophisticated look, rather than creating contrast with
different colors, you create contrast by pairing darker and lighter hues
next to each other. Having a monochromatic color scheme is when you
use one hue of color that varies by its tints and shades. Different tints
are achieved by the amount of white added to the base color and
shades are derived from adding darker colors such as grays and black.
By having multiple variations of a color, it will be more visual when
creating your vision.
o Example: Various shades of Blue (light blue, medium blue, dark
blue).
